A Family of Hopeless Romantics, Except for the Evil Little Junior Brother-Chapter 212: A Wasted Effort

This way, using Jia Sidao’s identity, he had finally forged a connection with the Heishui Cave Lord.

All the work these past days—finding a location, tracking the whereabouts of the Heishui Cave Saintess—had not been in vain.

At this moment, Li Xuanxiao continued his calculations in the inn.

Next, Jia Sidao would take the opportunity to strike a deal with the Heishui Cave Lord through this incident. freewёbnoνel.com

The Heishui Cave Lord no longer had any doubts about Jia Sidao’s identity as a high-level expert.

With Jia Sidao’s identity, asking the Heishui Cave Lord for a small favor—he definitely wouldn’t refuse...

Li Xuanxiao let out a long breath.

Just then, Senior Sister Su Wan, Qin Wenke, and Jiang Luoshui returned from outside.

Li Xuanxiao immediately changed his expression.

“You’re back.”

What had delighted him most over these days was that Abstract Senior Sister, Qin Wenke, and Jiang Luoshui hadn’t triggered any abstract missions.

Of course, special praise was due to his Little Junior Sister Zhao Lu.

It was Zhao Lu’s tight vigilance during these days that had made things much easier for Li Xuanxiao.

Sure enough, Little Junior Sister had grown up and could already share some responsibility.

I see in her the makings of the future Peak Master of Silver Sword Peak.

Su Wan nodded. “There have been minor beast tides in several surrounding mountain ranges.”

“Is that so.” Li Xuanxiao wasn’t surprised.

“We just went and killed two demonic beasts.”

“Mm, thank you for your hard work, Senior Brother, Senior Sister, and Junior Sister,” Li Xuanxiao said with a smile.

“After slaying the fiend beasts, we went to try the Southern Border’s Gu wine.”

“Was it good?”

Qin Wenke: “Very good, delicious and sweet.”

“I’ll go have some later too,” said Li Xuanxiao. “Hey, why is Junior Sister Luoshui dressed like that?”

Jiang Luoshui was wearing a colorful, lavish outfit full of Southern Border flavor.

She lightly lifted her skirt, revealing her long, slender legs.

She spun around gracefully, the delicate bell on her ankle letting out a crisp, pleasant chime.

Then she playfully said, “Senior Brother Xuanxiao, you’re only just noticing? Do you think it looks good? I actually think it’s just so-so!”

Qin Wenke nodded. “I also think it’s just so-so.”

Jiang Luoshui’s face immediately turned cold. “Who asked you?!”

Qin Wenke blinked.

Li Xuanxiao: “Looks great, looks great—absolutely like a celestial fairy.”

Remember, when a woman says “just so-so,” that’s your cue to praise her, not agree with her.

“Actually, there’s a really good local delicacy in the Southern Border too...”

“Yes, yes,” Li Xuanxiao continued to echo.

Su Wan: “We also found out that the Heishui Cave Lord is refining Gu using living people, preparing a large-scale sacrifice for it.”

Li Xuanxiao nodded. “Yes.....”

(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻!!!

Is this on the same dimension as the previous topic?!

You just casually dropped something enormous!!

Li Xuanxiao’s expression changed instantly as he stared at Su Wan in disbelief.

Su Wan repeated, “We discovered that the Heishui Cave Lord is refining Gu with living humans, preparing a massive sacrifice for the process.”

Li Xuanxiao paused in contemplation. “How did you find out?”

“It was Senior Sister Su Wan who stumbled upon it,” Qin Wenke said.

“What exactly happened?” Li Xuanxiao pressed.

Qin Wenke explained, “Here’s what happened. After we killed the fiend beasts, we went to drink Gu wine. Senior Sister Su Wan had a bottle with a pretty strong kick.

After drinking it, she didn’t want to use her magic to clear the effects.

She said the feeling was great, so she wandered the streets in a daze.

When she finally sobered up, she found herself in an unfamiliar place.

Then she saw the people from Heishui Cave refining Gu with living humans and overheard their plan.”

After hearing the whole story, Li Xuanxiao:

(⊙o⊙)…

The Heishui Cave Lord probably never imagined his secret would be exposed in such a way.

Su Wan continued, “Over the past century, Heishui Cave’s population has dropped by nearly half. The beast tide is also something the Heishui Cave Lord deliberately allowed to happen.”

Li Xuanxiao frowned slightly.

Su Wan then handed the Recording Stone to Li Xuanxiao.

As he looked into the Recording Stone and saw the scene inside, Li Xuanxiao felt a chill.

The space within the Recording Stone was vast—“immense” was more fitting.

Through the Recording Stone, he saw a ground filled entirely with ghastly white skeletons.

They were stacked in layers, so densely packed that there was hardly any space to step.

Apart from the bones, there were clusters of mound-like living quarters scattered throughout this land of death.

Many of the skulls had rusted iron chains affixed to them, likely belonging to skilled Gu Masters.

The chains wound tightly around their bodies, as if eternally binding their souls here.

The ones still living there had become completely unrecognizable, no longer human in shape.

Perhaps due to prolonged imprisonment, their bodies had mutated horrifically, twisting into grotesque forms.

Children birthed children, who birthed more children—on and on, for generations...

Until they became like this.

Even Li Xuanxiao’s face changed slightly after watching the entire Recording Stone.

“This...”

“The Southern Border has always been closed off. Only in recent years, with Mount Shushan’s aggressive intervention, have some of the ancient sacrificial practices been abolished—but they still persist,” Su Wan said grimly.

Li Xuanxiao held the Recording Stone in his hand.

This Heishui Cave Lord played a crucial role in his plans.

He had even deployed Di Nü Feng, putting on a whole performance.

If the Heishui Cave Lord fell now, wouldn’t the whole act be for nothing? His plan to deal with the Old Emperor would also fall apart.

But if he tried to threaten the Heishui Cave Lord, the man might act unpredictably when controlling the Gu.

At that point, not only would he fail to harm the Old Emperor,

He’d also suffer a total defeat and lose everything...

Li Xuanxiao rubbed his brow, his mind racing.

Though it seemed long, it only took an instant.

Before him now was a classic trolley problem.

Whichever way he chose, some people were bound to be sacrificed.

Give the Old Emperor one more day, and the Ten Thousand Souls Banner might absorb countless more innocent souls.

But if he chose to collaborate with the Heishui Cave Lord,

That man would never stop refining human Gu.

However, Li Xuanxiao quickly made up his mind.

Compared to the Old Emperor and the Ten Thousand Souls Banner,

The Heishui Cave Lord would be easier to deal with.

Thus, the best choice was to sacrifice a few for the greater good.

Suppressing this Recording Stone wouldn’t be hard for him.

Li Xuanxiao clenched his fists.

Tsk!!

“.............”

Heishui Cave.

The seventy-two caves of Heishui.

At this moment, the branch leaders of all caves were gathered here.

A great feast was laid out, but not for celebration.

It was for the release of Gu insects.

Every few years, Heishui Cave would distribute Gu to strengthen their forces.

The Heishui Cave Lord sat at the head seat.

Listening to someone below complain that the food wasn’t very appetizing today.

“We’re not here to eat!”

The Heishui Cave Lord said coldly.

The man immediately shut his mouth.

Soon, two living humans were carried in.

A woman and a child less than three years old.

The Heishui Cave Lord opened a jade box and took out a blood-red Gu insect.

It was the legendary Heart-Linking Bloodfiend Gu.

The Heishui Cave Lord said lightly, “This is my latest creation. It’s been in testing for some time.

You may take it and distribute it to your subordinates.

But to complete it, one key ingredient is still missing.”

He paused for effect.

When everyone looked at him in anticipation, he continued.

“Gu insects grow more vicious when bred in pain.

And no physical pain compares to the agony of the heart.

A mother and child are heart-bound—these two are mother and son.”

He gave a subtle signal to his subordinate.

The subordinate used a slender blade to slice a piece of flesh from the child’s hand.

Immediately, the child let out a wail that pierced the heavens.

The mother cried out in even deeper anguish.

“To watch one’s own flesh and blood be cut apart alive, dying bit by bit before your eyes—that is the fury and sorrow that breeds the strongest Gu,”

The Heishui Cave Lord said nonchalantly.

Everyone looked enlightened and praised the Lord in unison.

The Heishui Cave Lord added, “I’ve prepared many of these Gu for you. Just follow the process when you return.”

“Thank you, Cave Lord!”

They all shouted together.

No doubt, another bloodbath was coming.

Just then, a sharp, piercing screech came from above.

Everyone was shocked.

A thick, milky-white sword aura shot down like a waterfall, breaking through the formation’s ceiling with unstoppable force.

Dust flew, stones shattered!

“Rumble——!!!

“Mount Shushan Sword Formation, activate!!”

Several Mount Shushan Elders suddenly appeared.

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